statistics

sta·tis·tics

1. (used with a sing. verb) The mathematics of the collection, organization, and interpretation of numerical data, especially the analysis of population characteristics by inference from sampling.

2. (used with a pl. verb) Numerical data.

[From German Statistik, political science, from New Latin statisticus, of state affairs, from Italian statista, person skilled in statecraft, from stato, state, from Old Italian, from Latin status, position, form of government; see stā- in Indo-European roots.]

statistics

(stəˈtɪstɪks)

n

1. (Statistics) (functioning as plural) quantitative data on any subject, esp data comparing the distribution of some quantity for different subclasses of the population: statistics for earnings by different age groups.

2. (Statistics) (functioning as singular)

a. the classification and interpretation of such data in accordance with probability theory and the application of methods such as hypothesis testing to them

[C18 (originally 'science dealing with facts of a state'): via German Statistik, from New Latin statisticus concerning state affairs, from Latin status state]

sta•tis•tics

(stəˈtɪs tɪks)

n.

1. (used with a sing. v.) the science that deals with the collection, analysis, and interpretation of numerical data, often using probability theory.

2. (used with a pl. v.) the data themselves.

[1780–90; orig., a branch of political science dealing with the collection of data relevant to a state < German Statistik]

sta·tis·tics

(stə-tĭs′tĭks)

1. (Used with a singular verb) The branch of mathematics that deals with the collection, organization, analysis, and interpretation of numerical data. Statistics is especially useful in drawing general conclusions about a set of data from a sample of it.

2. (Used with a plural verb) Numerical data used in drawing general conclusions from a sample of it.

degree of freedom - (statistics) an unrestricted variable in a frequency distribution

dependent variable - (statistics) a variable in a logical or mathematical expression whose value depends on the independent variable; "if f(x)=y, y is the dependent variable"

predictor variable - a variable that can be used to predict the value of another variable (as in statistical regression)

Bernoulli's law, law of large numbers - (statistics) law stating that a large number of items taken at random from a population will (on the average) have the population statistics

Bayes' theorem - (statistics) a theorem describing how the conditional probability of a set of possible causes for a given observed event can be computed from knowledge of the probability of each cause and the conditional probability of the outcome of each cause

Bayes' postulate - (statistics) the difficulty of applying Bayes' theorem is that the probabilities of the different causes are seldom known, in which case it may be postulated that they are all equal (sometimes known as postulating the equidistribution of ignorance)

covariance - (statistics) the mean value of the product of the deviations of two variates from their respective means

statistics

plural noun

Quotations"There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics" [Benjamin Disraeli]"He uses statistics like a drunken man uses lamp-posts - for support rather than illumination" [Andrew Lang]

On Tuesday, Rehn stated the European Commission has some "worries" about the statistical data submitted by Bulgaria regarding its economy and plans to send "soon" an investigative mission to the country.

Dubai Export Development Corporation (EDC), the Dubai government body responsible for promoting exports in the Emirate has signed a memorandum of understanding with Dubai Statistics Center, the official source responsible for providing statistical data in the Emirate of Dubai.

Following the annulment by the Constitutional Council of France of the possibility, established in immigration law, of authorising the collection of statistical data on the ethnic origins of people living in France (annulment decided on 15 November more for procedural reasons than on principle), the European Commission has clarified its position on the matter to Europolitics.

The S PLUS 7 software platform for statistical data analysis and predictive analytics supports analysis of very large data sets and the rapid development of analytic applications that integrate advanced statistical methods within existing business processes.

A wealth of charts and graphs and a handful of black-and-white photographs illustrate excavated finds from pottery to ceramic human figurines to floors of former dwellings, estimated dates, statistical data and patterns concerning discoveries, and much more.

(The article "Crime Factors" in the beginning of each edition of Crime in the United States [accessible at the FBI's Internet site at www.fbi.gov] presents a comprehensive discussion of the many factors that affect crime in a jurisdiction.) Therefore the reader is cautioned against simplistic comparisons of the statistical data of this program with that of others with differing methodologies or even comparing individual reporting units solely on

Noting that visits to African American heritage sites have more than doubled over the last five years, GTL said the launch will include news about new destinations, profiles on African American travel planners, features on major destinations, and statistical data on the continuing growth of the market.

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